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Diego Costa has officially left Atletico Madrid with the club confirming the termination of his contract.
Costa, who returned to Atleti from Chelsea in 2018, has scored only 19 goals in 81 games in his second spell with Diego Simeone’s side.
Rumours emerged a few days ago stating the 32-year-old was to be released six months before the end of his contract.
And Atleti announced the termination of his deal on Tuesday afternoon.
Costa has been linked with a January move to Arsenal upon his exit with the striker understood to be planning to remain in Europe and play at the highest level.
The Brazil-born Spain international was a big success in the Premier League, with his combative style standing him in good stead in English football.
He scored 52 goals in 89 games for Chelsea from 2014 to 2017 following his £32m move to Stamford Bridge and helped the club win two league titles.
During his time in England, Costa was often the pantomime villain, the master of the dark arts whose ferocious nature made him public enemy No.1 everywhere but Chelsea.
Always keen for a fight, he developed a reputation for his constant scrapping with defenders as much as his goalscoring prowess.
He starred under Jose Mourinho and then his successor Antonio Conte but fell out with the latter in 2017 after the Italian sent a text message informing Costa he was not part of Chelsea’s future plans.
After spending the first half of the 2017/18 season exiled in Brazil, Costa forced through a move back to Atletico in September, which went through officially in January 2018 once the club’s transfer ban expired.
He had made his name at Atletico in his first spell there, which yielded 43 goals in 94 matches and saw the Spanish club win LaLiga.
But his return to Atletico was not as successful – he has failed to score more than five league goals in three full seasons.
Following Luis Suarez’s arrival in the summer, Costa’s game time has been limited this term and he was absent from training on Monday as he pushed to be allowed to leave for free – citing personal reasons.
That request has now been granted, with Atleti releasing the following statement: “Atlético de Madrid and Diego Costa have reached an agreement for the termination of the striker’s contract, which was to end on June 30, 2021.
“The striker asked to leave the club for personal reasons a few days ago and on Tuesday signed the termination of his contract.
“Since he arrived at our club in 2006 at age just 17, the forward played 215 official matches in two stages, scoring 83 goals and providing 36 assists. During his time at Atlético de Madrid, he won one LaLiga title (2013-14), one Copa del Rey (2013), one Europa League (2018) and two UEFA Super Cups (2010 and 2018).
“The club thanks Diego Costa for his dedication during these years and wishes him well in the next stage of his professional career.”
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